SALDEF Secures Change – Headwear Now Permitted In CA Prison Visits

India-West Staff Reporter

SACRAMENTO, CA- In a civil rights win, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) has successfully advocated for a major policy change within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Visitors to California prisons are now permitted to wear religious headwear—such as Sikh dastaars—during visits to incarcerated loved ones without needing prior written approval.

The new policy is currently in effect and represents a critical step toward upholding the religious freedom and dignity of Sikh Americans and other faith-based communities.

“This victory was made possible through the continued support and partnership of our community,” SALDEF said in a statement. “Together, we are breaking down barriers and advancing civil liberties—one policy at a time.”